Pilot Club celebrates 90 years in Tuscaloosa

Monday

Mar 19, 2012 at 12:01 AM

One of Tuscaloosa’s oldest service clubs, the Pilot Club, celebrated its 90th anniversary Sunday.

By Lydia Seabol AvantStaff Writer

One of Tuscaloosa’s oldest service clubs, the Pilot Club, celebrated its 90th anniversary Sunday.The club, which originally served as a service organization for professional women after World War I, has evolved over the years. Today, there are about 30 women in the group that focuses on making an impact on the Tuscaloosa community.“The Pilot Club started after World War I because, after the war, people wanted to give back,” said Beverly Kissinger, president of the Tuscaloosa club.Women who are members are no longer required to be working professionals, and members vary in their background and age. One commonality is that they want to contribute to the community in some way, Kissinger said.The club has partnered with the Caring Days adult care program, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at DCH, the Salvation Army in Tuscaloosa and helped sponsor Safe Kids Tuscaloosa, which checks that car seats are properly installed in vehicles.The group sponsors several scholarships, including a nursing scholarship to the University of Alabama and a GED scholarship to Shelton State Community College.About 25 years ago, the organization started a Project Help program, which assisted at-risk school children with tutoring in the summer. The program is ongoing and self-sustaining, Kissinger said, and the club continues to give scholarship money to the program.“It’s a pretty remarkable group,” said Kissinger, who said the club has helped her to feel more like a part of the Tuscaloosa community.“It’s allowed me to use my creative skills, whether it’s creating artwork or doing skits. It’s allowed me to give back and enjoy something different that I don’t do in my day-to-day career.” As part of the 90th anniversary party, the group celebrated with cake and hors d’oeuvres at Christ Episcopal Church on Sunday. Albums were on display with photos and news clippings from the club’s activities over the past several decades. Today, there are more than 400 Pilot Club chapters around the world, and Tuscaloosa is one of the oldest, said Kissinger. Tuscaloosa’s club, formed in 1922, was only the fourth chapter of the organization. Wilena Sims, of Tuscaloosa, is the longest standing member of the club. She joined in 1966. “It’s been a wonderful 46 years,” Sims said. “I’ve met so many wonderful Tuscaloosa women.”Cindi Shaun joined about 12 years ago. “It’s the best kept secret in Tuscaloosa,” Shaun said. “It’s so rewarding to give back.” For information on the Pilot Club of Tuscaloosa, email tuscaloosapilot@aol.com.